→ Anthrax attacks in the US in 2001
You September 11 terrorist attacks of 2001, unleashed against the twin towers and against the Pentagon building, in the USA, resulted, in addition to thousands of deaths, an epidemic of panic followed by major disruptions in infrastructure sectors, such as the network of airports. A month after these attacks, a new form of terrorist action was unleashed in the United States: the terrorism with biological agents or, technically speaking, the bioterrorism. The biological agent in question was the anthrax.
At least five cards contaminated with bacillus spores anthrax, which had the appearance of white powder inside the envelopes, were sent, as of September 18, 2001, from the city of Treton, New Jersey, to specific targets. Among these targets were politicians, TV stations and newspaper offices. As of October 21 of the same year, at least nine people had died from anthrax contamination.
To date, US authorities have yet to discover the authorship of the anthrax attacks, although the letters carry messages which indicate that such attacks, like those of September 11, were supported by Islamic fundamentalist terrorism networks. The fact is that it was discovered that the spores of the bacillus used in the letters did not come from the Middle East, but would probably have been treated in a laboratory in the North American field.
But, after all, what exactly is anthrax? And why was there so much panic when it was found to be used for terrorist purposes? That's what we'll explain below!
→ What is Anthrax?
O anthrax, also called anthrax, is a highly lethal infectious disease caused by a gram-positive bacillus called Bacillus anthracis, which is capable of forming spores that live up to 200 years. Although it most frequently infects animals such as sheep and oxen (herbivorous mammals), the disease can affect humans.
O Bacillus anthracis is a bacterium capable of forming very resistant spores
The name anthrax comes from greek antrakus, which means coal. The name was given because of the black color of the lesions in the cutaneous form of the infection. In addition to this form, the disease can present in the inhaled and gastrointestinal form.
- Cutaneous anthrax - The cutaneous form is the most common and affects only the skin, being not very aggressive. Contamination begins with the germination of spores in cut or abraded areas of the skin. These spores release toxins that form a local swelling and trigger itching. Over the days, the lesion changes until it takes on a dark color that characterizes the disease. In addition, cutaneous anthrax may be accompanied by headaches and muscle pain, fever and vomiting. If not treated properly, the disease can lead to death.
- Gastrointestinal anthrax - The gastrointestinal form is triggered by eating meat contaminated by the bacillus. Symptoms start two to five days after ingestion and can occur in two ways. One is the intestinal form, which causes abdominal pain, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites), vomiting blood, bloody stools, and diarrhea. In the oropharyngeal form, there is an oral and esophageal ulcer. Gastrointestinal anthrax can lead to death from 25 to 60% of those infected.
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- Inhaled anthrax - The inhaled form is the most aggressive, causing the individual to die within a few days. Contamination begins with the inhalation of spores, which travel towards the pulmonary alveoli, where they are phagocytosed by the macrophages, which are destroyed. Surviving spores fall into the lymphatic stream and are carried to the mediastinum, where they germinate and cause hemorrhage, edema, and necrosis. Early in the infection, symptoms such as those of a common cold are seen. After a few days, difficulty breathing and shock may occur. Due to the greatLethality (nine out of ten contaminated), anthrax spores are being used by bioterrorists.
→ bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is defined by researchers specializing in biotechnology and biosafety as a set of “threats and deliberate attacks using biological weapons, aiming to create panic, insecurity, fear and collective trauma, generating constant apprehensions in society and enhancing behaviors considered pathological, manifested socially. The greatest impact of bioterrorism falls on public health systems, especially the most precarious ones.” [1]
Although bioterrorism is configured as unofficial actions, that is, they are not directly linked to war strategies defined by States and Nations, its existence in the 21st century is due in large part to the experiments that were carried out with biological weapons by States, such as the USSR, in the century XX. It is notorious the case of Biopreparation, a Soviet institution specializing in biological weapons that was created in 1973. She aimed to develop variations of the Ebola and Smallpox viruses, as well as the anthrax bacillus.
This research center was located on the outskirts of the city of Sverdlovsk, in Russia. In 1979, there was a leak of anthrax spores from the Biopreparation, which caused the contamination of people and animals. At least 68 human deaths have been confirmed. O Sverdlovsk disaster served to define new directions for the field of research in biotechnology, however, many states continue to research bioweapons technology with agents such as anthrax. In this context, it is not possible to predict whether such weapons will actually be used in conventional wars or whether they will be stolen or “imitated” by terrorist groups.
It is noteworthy that to confirm the diagnosis of anthrax contamination, it is necessary to analyze blood samples and secretions to verify the presence of the bacillus. The test results are released about 48 hours after the material is collected. After confirming the diagnosis, the treatment starts and is done with antibiotics, which should be prescribed by a doctor.
THE vaccine against anthrax exists, but it is only used in people who are at risk of contamination, such as rural and military workers. The World Health Organization does not recommend mass vaccination.
GRADES:
[1] Dora Rambauske, Telma Abdalla de Oliveira Cardoso, Marli Brito Moreira de Albuquerque Navarro.Physis – Journal of Public Health, Rio de Janeiro, 24 [4], 2014, p. 1186.
By Mother Cláudio Fernandes and Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
